Valve for milking machines



June 16, 1942. J, R. QWRY" VALVE FOR MILKING MACHIS Filed July 22, 1940 INVENTOR JESSE lLnwRw Patented June 16, 1942 l UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,286,557 Y VALVE Foa MILKING MACHINES Jesse R. Lowry, Des Moines, Iowa. Application July 22, 1940, serial No. 346,682

(c1. sr-cz) v 8 Claims.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple and sanitary valve for mechanical milking machines.

A further object of this invention is to provide a valve for milking machines that may be quickly and easily detached or replaced.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a valve for milking machines that is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of my device installed in the line and ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the iixed plate portion of the valve mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and more fully illustrates its construction. I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the upper portion of the valve guiding stem.

Most milking machines have intermittent pressure and suction applied' through the line. Ob-

viously a check valve or Avalves are necessary in the line to receive and dispose of the milk obtained. The chief objections to most of these valves are that they are complicated, are difficult to clean and keep in a sanitary condition and are dicult to detach from or replace into the line of the mechanism. I have overcome such objections as will hereinafter be appreciated.

Referring to the drawing, I have used the numeral I0 to designate arplate member designed to cover an open receptacle such as a milk pail, milk can, or like. This base plate IIJ also serves as a part of my valve. The numeral II designates a circular opening cut in and'through the member I0. The numeral I 2 designates a disc element supported by the brackets I3 in a horizontal plane slightly above the top point of the member IIJ as shown in Fig. 1. This disc element I2 is so positioned that its `vertical axis cuts a path inthe center of the circular openingII. The brackets I3 are U-shaped, each having `one of their ends extending downwardly from the under side of the member I0 and then curved upwardly to engage and support the horizontal disc I2. The members Ill, I2, and I3 are rigidly secured together and if desired may be cast in one piece. The diameter of the circular disc I2 is less than that of the diameter of the opening II and is formed with a continuous receiving groove around its periphery as shown in Fig. ,1. The numeral I4 designates a rubber ring or like resilient band resting in the groove and extending completely around the periphery of the disc I2. The numeral I5 designates a post extending upwardly from the center of the disc I2. The upper end of this post I5 is reduced in diameter and provided with vertical groove passageways I6 as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. The extreme upper end of the post isY pointed to facilitate the guiding of the moveable portion of the valve onto the same. The elements I0,'I2, I3, I4 and I5 may be considered as the iixed or non-movable portions of my valve. The numeral I'I designates the inverted cup portion of the movable portion of the valve. This inverted cup member I6 has at least its major side walls of transparent material such as glass so that the iiow of milk through the valve may be observed. In the drawing, I ,show the entire inverted cup portion Vas made of glass or other transparent material. The lower end portion of the inverted cup member I6 extends downwardly and outwardly and then downwardly as shown in Fig, 1.` The diameter of the extreme lower end of the inverted cup member is slightly less than that of the diameter of the opening II, while the central portion of the inverted elongated cup member is of a diameter substantially less than that of the diameter of the rubber ring I4. By this construction, the extreme lower portion of the cup member may pass downwardly within the opening II and freely past the disc I2, but due to the fact that the central portion of the cup member is less than that of the disc, that portion of the inverted cup member that extends outwardly and downwardly and which I have designated by the numeral I8 may engage and rest on and be supported'by the rubber ring I4. Obviously when the inverted cup member is in a lowered position for engagement with the rubber ring I4, the inside of the cup will besealed at its lower end por'- tion and when the cup member is raised to` a position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the ared wall I8 'of the cup will be out of engagement with the rubber ring gasket and the inside of the cup will be in communication with a receptacle or like placed under the member Ill. The numeral I9 designates a hollow stem integrally formed on the center of the bottom of the inverted cup I1 and which slidably loosely embraces the upper end of the post I5. By this construction, the cup may move upwardly or downwardly in proper alignment on and With the stationary portions of the valve. The numeral 2U designates a flexible tube having one end embracing the hollow stem I9 and its other end designed to be in communication with the suction and pressure means of a milking machine and which usually consists of a reciprocating piston operating within a cylinder. The inside of the inverted cup member is therefore always in communication with the pressure and suction means of the milking machine by virtue of the air passageways I6. The numeral 2I designates a pipe stern communicating with the inside topv portion of the inverted cup I8 as shown in Fig. 3. This member 2| extends downwardly an'd slightly at an angle to the radii of the cup I8. The numeral 22 designates a flexible tube having one end embracing the member 2lv andV its otherV endv` designed to extend to and communicate with theVv elements that embrace the teats of the cow to be milked.

The practical operation ofthe device-is 'as-follows:

When a suction or minus pressure existszwithin the tube 20, the suction will also be experienced within the cup I'I and the inside of the tube 22, thereby causing milk to flow fromV the cow through the tube 22 and into the cup I1. Also due to this suction, the cup will be in aA lowered position on the ring I4' and its; lowerY end therefore sealed. However, when the intermittent pressure is experienced theV inside of the cup will experience a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure, thereby forcing the cup member I1 upwardly clear of the ring I4 and permitting j `the accumulated milk within the cup member to pass downwardly therefrom and into the receptacle below the member lill. The` milk being drawn into the cup member will obviously;V be intermittent and due to the position of the member 2I to the cup, it will enter the `cup with^ a slight rotary motion, properly placing.A it completely around the lower end of the cup for its exit downwardly from around, the disc I2 the last time the cupmoves to an upward position. To eliminate any` possibility of this'v milk being splashed upwardly or drawn intoV theY tube; 20 through the stem portion I 9 of the cup, I have provided a` splashring 23 onV thev inside bottom of the cup I'I and looselyA around the post. I5 as shown-.in Fig. 1.

Todisassemble my valve for cleaning. purposes or for repair, it is merely necessary to lift the inverted cup member upwardly andfree of the post I5 after which the rubber tubes 20 and 22 may be removed. Obviouslythe cup may be :easily cleaned and kept in a sanitary condition as-it is of simple construction and both the hollow'stem I9 and conduit 2I are open at both ends and communicate with the inside of the cup` proper.

Although most milking machines operate by the application of intermittent superatmospheric and subatmospheric air pressure to the'milk` con nection of the teat cups, it is possible fora machine to operate on periodic minus pressures. Obviously in such machines, the elimination of intermittent plus pressures provides no means for intermittently raisingthe inverted cup member to permit the milk to pass throughthevalve. To overcome such a problem, I have provided: a detachable float means, which I` have designated by the numeral 24. This float means has-radially extending ngers-Z for engaging the flared portion of the invertedY cup member. This float means may obviously be removed or replaced -in therein to pass through the valve means.

the inverted cup member. In cases where only minus pressures are experienced, the accumulating milk within the inverted cup member will aci on the oat means and periodically raise the lnverted cup member upwardly to permit the milk In my device when the milk ows out of the cup member the partial vacuum which has held the cup member I'I down is at once made Vineffective and therefore the cup member rises considerably when the milk has left the-member II, the member is again sealed on the disc element I2, and partial vacuum is at once restored, so as to hold the member I'I down. The oat means can also be usecf. with machines having intermittent plus and minus1 pressures as the float valve will aid in raising the inverted cup member when a sur- 1 plus amount ofi milk is in the inverted cup member.. n

Some changes may be made in the construction andl arrangement of my improved valve for milking machines: without. departing, from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my"l claims any modied formscf structure,I or use ofmechanical equivalents which may be reasonablyincluded withintheir scope.

I claim :g

1. In a device ofthe class described, a-plate member having an opening, a disc having a diameter substantially less thanY that of the open'- ing in said plate member; bracket means for supporting said disc inl ai position` above the opening insaid plate. member, a gasket ony they periph.. erial'portlon of said disc, an invertedcupimember having its lower portionared outwardly and downwardly for engagement with said `gasket at times and -itsextremelower marginal edge portion extending.v directlydownwardly Afor entrance into the openingot saidplatemembena post extending upwardly from` said disc, a hollow stem onthe bottoni-of-` said.y inverted cup-member looselyV embracing they upper` portion of said post,l a pipe communicating with the inside of-saidstem, and a conduit communicating with the inside of said inverted cup member.. Y

2. In a device of. the7 class described., a. plate member havingan opening,` a disc having a diameter substantiallylessthanthat-ofV the opening in-said platememben-bracket means for supporting said disc. in` a positionf above the opening'in said plate 'membena gasket on the peripherial portion: of said disc, anfinverted cup member having its-lower portion flared outwardly and downwardly for engagement. with. said` gasket at times and` itsextreme-lower marginal edge portion. extending.directlydownwardly for' entrance into'the opening ofv said plate member,y a post extending vupwardly fromsaid disc, air passagewayslinthev upper endl portion ofsaid` post, a hollow stem portion. onthe bottom of said inverted cup member communicating with` theinside of said invertedcup member and. slidably engaging the upper end of` said post, a tube member having oneend embracingfsaid" hollow stem portion, anda conduitsecuredtoandcommunicating with the inside of` said invertedA cup member.

3-111. a device of. the. classy described, a plate member having. any opening, a disc member having a. diameter substantially. less thanY that of the opening insaid. plate member, bracket means vfor supporting said disc. in a position above the opening in said plate member, a gasket on the peripherial portion. of said disc., an invertedcup member .having its` lower. .portiorriiarecl outwardly and downwardly for engagement with said gasket at times and its extreme lower marginal edge portion extending directly downwardly for entrance into the opening of said plate member, a post extending upwardly from said disc, air passageways in the upper end portion of said post, a hollow stem portion on the bottom of said inverted cup member communicating with the inside of said inverted cup member and slidably engaging the upper end of said post, a tube member having one end embracing said hollow stem portion, a conduit secured to and communicating with the inside of said inverted cup member, and a splash ring on the inside bottom of said inverted cup member loosely embracing said post.

4. In a valve, a xed disc member, an inverted cup member having a flared bottom portion capable of embracing and resting on said disc member when in a lowered position, a means for mounting said inverted cup member for vertical reciprocation, and a conduit having one end communicating with the inside of said inverted cup member, its other end designed to be in communication with an intermittent source of pressure greater than that of the pressure of the outside atmosphere and a pressure less than that of the pressure of the outside atmosphere, and a float means within said inverted cup member and operatively connected to said inverted cup member.

5. In a device of the class described, a plate member having an opening, a disc having a dia'meter substantially less than that of the opening in said plate member, bracket means for supporting said disc in a position above the opening in said plate member, an inverted cup member mounted for vertical reciprocation and having a bottom iiared portion capable of en gaging and resting on the periphery of said disc member when in a lowered position, and a tube communicating with the inside of said inverted cup member. Y

6. In a device of the class described, a plate member having an opening, a disc having a diameter substantially less than that of the opening in said plate member, bracket means for supporting said disc in a position above the opening in said plate member, an inverted cup member having its lower portion ared outwardly and downwardly for engagement with said disc at times and its extreme lower marginal edge portion extending directly downwardly for entrance into the opening of said plate member, and two conduit members communicating with the inside of said inverted cup member.

7. In a device of the class described, a plate member having an opening, a disc having a diameter substantially less than that of the opening in said plate member, bracket means for supporting said disc in a position above the opening in said plate member, an inverted cup member having its lower portion ared outwardly and downwardly for engagement with said disc at times and its extreme lower marginal edge portion extending directly downwardly for entrance into the opening of said plate member, a post extending upwardly from said disc, air passageways in the upper end portion of said post, a hollow stem portion on the bottom of said inverted cup member communicating with the inside of said inverted cup member and slidably engaging the upper end of said post, a tube member having one end embracing said hollow stem portion, and a conduit secured to and communicating With the inside of said inverted cup member.

8. In a device of the class described, a plate member having an opening, a disc having a diameter less than that of the opening in said plate member, bracket means for supporting said disc, an inverted cup member having its lower portion ared outwardly and downwardly for engagement with said disc at times with its extreme lower marginal edge portion extending directly downwardly through the opening of said plate member, a post extending upwardly from said disc, air passageways in the upper end portion of said post, a hollow stem portion on the bottom of said inverted cup member communicating with the inside of said inverted cup member and slidably engaging the upper end of said post, a tube member having one end embracing said hollow stem portion, and a conduit secured to and communicating with the inside of said inverted cup member.

JESSE R. LOWRY. 

